Cris Giesbrecht

by Jared Jost | August 13, 2018 11:33 am

Hillsboro – Cris Giesbrecht, 60, passed away August 12, 2018 at her home. She was born October 25, 1957 in Brazil. She was a registered nurse. She married Clarence Giesbrecht December 19, 1993 at Moundridge. Survivors include: husband, Clarence Giesbrecht of Rural Hillsboro; son Weston Giesbrecht of Rural Hillsboro; daughter, Olivia Giesbrecht of Rural Hillsboro. Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at Alexanderfeld Mennonite Church Rural Hillsboro. Family will receive guests from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Church 1 mile West and one mile South of Hillsboro. Memorials to Cris Giesbrecht Medical Fund in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com

Life Sketch taken from the Funeral Bulletin

My wife and our mother, Maria Cristina Alves Giesbrecht, known as Cris, was born sometime between 1957 and 1960. Her place of birth, birthdate and name of parents are unknown. Her legal documents state her birth as October 25, 1957, but she knew it was not her true birthday. After being converted, wanting to be completely honest and knowing her legal documents were actually false, she was often troubled because of it. The ministers told her it was okay if she just went by her legal documents. She passed away in the early hours of August 12, 2018. Her death due to an untreatable brain tumor.

She grew up in an orphanage in her local town Rio (HE-oh) Verde (VAIR-gee), Goiás (goy-OSS), Brazil, together with 10 girls and 45 boys, all of whom she considered her sisters and brothers. She lived in Rio (HE-oh) Verde (VAIR-gee), Goiás (goy-OSS), Brazil until leaving the orphanage at the age of 16. She received her formal education in the local town.

After leaving the orphanage, at some time between 18-20 years of age, she lived with Charles and Faith Becker for some time, after which she also lived with Glenn and Elizabeth Hibner and Stanley and Mary Schultz. All whom she lived with became very dear to her and she became very dear to them. The Schultz children especially counted her as a big sister.

She came to the United States in June of 1988 with the Stanley Schultz family. While they did their traveling, she asked to volunteer at the Moundridge Manor. She spent her allotted time of six months in the States, after which she had to return to Brazil. She was very interested in nursing, so she soon worked on getting her student visa, returning to the United States in December of 1988, remaining here until her passing. She took her RN nurse’s training at Hesston College. After coming to the States, she lived with Twila and Verla Unruh, and later with Dorothy Bates. Dorothy was her American mom, and the children called her Grandma Dorothy.

She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on May 10, 1981, by Min. Reno Hibner. Her desire was to be saved and reach heaven, and we rest in her assurance that she has gone to be with Jesus. On December 19, 1993, she was married to me, Clarence Giesbrecht, by Min. Jona Dyck, at Gospel Mennonite Church, Moundridge, Kansas. God blessed our home with two children, Weston and Olivia. She was a very caring person, wanting to help wherever she saw a need. She was a joyous wife and mother, teaching us many values that will go with us through life.

Cris worked as a nurse in Moundridge Manor, Parkside, Showalter Villa nursing homes, as well as doing some home care until shortly before the diagnosis of a brain tumor.

Those left to cherish memories are her husband, Clarence Giesbrecht; two children, Weston and Olivia, of the home; her orphanage brothers and sisters. Extended family, Stanley and Mary Schultz of Rio (HE-oh) Verde (VAIR-gee), Goiás (goy-OSS), Brazil, and Joe and Martha Unruh, Halstead, Kansas; special friends, Carlos and Nita Becker of Rio (HE-oh) Verde (VAIR-gee), Goiás (goy-OSS), Brazil; Lovina Coblentz Adams, Homeworth, Ohio; Brendan and Lucy, Ben and Megan Reimer, Hillsboro, Kansas, as well as nephews and nieces and many other cherished friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents-in-law, two orphanage sisters and one brother.

Funeral services were held August 12, 2018, at Alexanderfeld Congregation, Hillsboro, Kansas Ministers Orlin Ensz and Richard Mininger officiated. Interment was in the adjoining Church cemetery.